Tellurium Q Black Nait XS2
Posted by: ThatsNotMyNaim on 23 July 2016
Hi all,
I'm having some TQ Black delivered monday on trial. Just wondered if anyone had any experience of it? Especially versus Chord Rumour / XS2 which currently have.
Hoping it tightens/cleans up the bass without losing rhythm and drive... but also smooths the highs a little.
I loaned: Odyssey, EPIC. NAC A5. Didn't like them.
EPIC was detailed but lazy. Odyssey was tinny and lost all of the bass definition I get with Rumour. Almost lost the bass completely.
Rumour is too thick and heavy in the bass though. Lacks openess and is a bit harsh on vocals.
NAC A5 was dry/bland but punchy and well timed. But the highs were a bit ropey at times. Was tempted but put the rumour back in and felt it was warmer in a nice way.
iMac/Audivarna(WAV library)>Chord Silver Plus USB>Chord 2Qute(TP PSU)>Chord Chameleon VEE3>Nait XS2>Chord Rumour 2 (2 metre pairs)>Proac 118. (All stock Naim power cables).
Atacama Moseco 6 (Plan to replace with Partingtons)
ERIS 5.0
Failing this it's Hi Cap DR time (or other...)
Cheers
Adam
Posted on: 23 July 2016 by gary yeowell
2 grand on cables for a NaitXS is bonkers! Box first, cables last...... if at all. I'd stick with NacA5 and a Powerline.
Posted on: 23 July 2016 by Finkfan
Why is more money on cables any more bonkers than a power supply?
Posted on: 23 July 2016 by wenger2015
2 grand on cables for a NaitXS is bonkers! Box first, cables last...... if at all. I'd stick with NacA5 and a Powerline.
I think at £260 a mt, it's only just over £1k for the ultra blacks in this case, a reasonably cheap upgrade for a High return....
Posted on: 23 July 2016 by Rob T
I run TQ Black Speaker cables and it out performs NACA5 hands down in all departments by a large margin, I would never go back.
Posted on: 23 July 2016 by gary yeowell
Good for you.... I wouldn't touch them with a large bargepole. Spend the money on a better amp. @£260 per mtr, that's a lot of extra amp.
Posted on: 23 July 2016 by Rob T
Any thoughts on witchhat ?
I have tried their Din>Xlr cables with 250DR and 300DR they are an improvement on Naim stock cables and a good VFM upgrade imo. I tried them from phono stage to pre but did not like what they did but its all system dependent, certainly worth checking out.
Posted on: 23 July 2016 by Finkfan
I guess at the end of the day you just have to justify any expense yourself. Bigger better cables will produce a positive result on almost any system. Bigger this, extended that, tightening here, deeper there. Every component in our hifi chain acts as a filter to the music we hear. Spending more removes layers of that filter. We spend a lot of money on boxes and some of them don't have much inside, and until the arrival of Superlumina NacA5 was deemed 'good enough'. Ditto with mains and interconnects. When you run out of boxes to buy, or don't want any more, Be brave. Listen to some cables. If you like what it does, great. If not, so be it. Chances are it will be an ear opener!
Posted on: 23 July 2016 by gary yeowell
And once again, £260 per mtr for a speaker cable on a Nait XS is bonkers.
Posted on: 23 July 2016 by Finkfan
Fair enough Gary. Each to their own
Posted on: 23 July 2016 by wenger2015
And once again, £260 per mtr for a speaker cable on a Nait XS is bonkers.
I was thinking that was a very cheap upgrade....
Posted on: 23 July 2016 by Adam Zielinski
Be careful with TQ Ultra blacks - either as DIN or speaker cables. The components you have are not up to that level - the cables wil painfully expose the shortcomings.
TQ Black is a fantastic DIN cable - highly recommended.
Posted on: 23 July 2016 by Antonio1
What if you bought the PS first and demoed it with NACA5 to find out PS was all you need and like the result?
Posted on: 23 July 2016 by Bf56
Witchhat? What's that then?
You guys mentioning TQ Ultra Black but wouldn't that shame my system?
A few have said the harshness may derive from XS2. So I am worried seriously transparent cables will show things up more.
That and the fact Ultra black way too expensive for me at the moment.
Witch hat audio who offer 5 m pair at £145 cheap by comparison, to all others. Has any one any experience of these?. Their web site claims they suit all Naim amps.
Posted on: 23 July 2016 by Knipester
All TQ cables are exceptional, doesn't matter how good your electronics are unless they can send their outputs to the speakers effectively.
Black is very good value for money
ultra black adds more performance
ultra silver takes your kit to another level especially regarding inner detail
Posted on: 23 July 2016 by Finkfan
What if you bought the PS first and demoed it with NACA5 to find out PS was all you need and like the result?
Great!
Posted on: 23 July 2016 by wenger2015
All TQ cables are exceptional, doesn't matter how good your electronics are unless they can send their outputs to the speakers effectively.
Black is very good value for money
ultra black adds more performance
ultra silver takes your kit to another level especially regarding inner detail
+1 , I'm thinking of the ultra silvers myself.... all the reviews suggest they are outstanding cables ...
Posted on: 23 July 2016 by Adam Zielinski
Wenger - at this price level you might as well try SuperLumina. It is an exceptional wire.
Posted on: 23 July 2016 by MDS
Wenger - at this price level you might as well try SuperLumina. It is an exceptional wire.
Seconded.
Posted on: 23 July 2016 by Antonio1
Super lumina on xs? Not even at Naim advice such a cable at that level. C mon guys ,XS is much more about speed,than tonal richness and extension..
Posted on: 23 July 2016 by Finkfan
This may be controversial but I heard the SL cables at the Bristol demo and to my 30 something year old ears the NacA5 sounded better. The SLs had a harsh upper midrange that I just couldn't get on with. I stayed after the last demo on the Sunday evening and the guys cranked it up. It's really not for me. I heard the TQ cables in the Kog audio room and it was a joy to hear. It was be interesting to compare the SLs side by side with the similarly priced TQ cable
Posted on: 23 July 2016 by wenger2015
Wenger - at this price level you might as well try SuperLumina. It is an exceptional wire.
I would like to hear SL's on dem in my own listening room, the only time I've heard them was at the Bristol show in the Naim demo room and unfortunately they failed to impress .....but they most certainly need a second chance
Posted on: 23 July 2016 by Adam Zielinski
Super lumina on xs? Not even at Naim advice such a cable at that level. C mon guys ,XS is much more about speed,than tonal richness and extension..
On Wegner's system Antonio. Not on Nait XS 
On a Nait Inwould start and finish with a NACA5.
Posted on: 24 July 2016 by Antonio1
I shoul d not post from my mobile.
or better still buy a new one.
Posted on: 24 July 2016 by ThatsNotMyNaim
Well the TQ Black is here and on.
1 hour so far. Says 13H tested on the box so guessing needs a good run in.
Thoughts so far:
System sounds alien! Totally different. It's come to life. But is that a good thing long term...
Sound is very detailed and expressive. Very bubbly and engaging. But not bright or harsh. It 'might' become a bit tiresome but it needs a settling period so we'll see.
Open as I've ever heard but not harsh on the voices and seems to blend everything well. Easy going in that sense.
I can see why certain NAC A5ers wouldn't like it though. A5 sound dry to me, like it just wanted to get on with the job and didn't care about the nice bits. This is the opposite. It sparkles, glows and swirls around the room but still trundles along nicely. It's not as hefty though. But hefty enough to feel it.
Less bass (a good thing versus Rumour). A bit more bass than Epic. Less than NAC. Very clean. Good balance.
Out of everything so far I would only consider this and A5 (but A5 woule take some getting used to for me). But this really lights up the room.
Let's see if I am singing or screaming in a week or so.
Can't help but think this could be wonderful with a Direct Current.
Posted on: 24 July 2016 by Mayor West
Black is excellent. I swapped it out for Chord Epic.
